INGREDIENTS

Should people with diabetes buy or consume Girl Scout Cookies?

We encourage consumers concerned about sugar intake to discuss dietary options with a doctor or registered dietitian.

For consumer convenience, each of our licensed bakers lists dietary exchanges on the cookie information pages of their websites, so people with diabetes and parents of children with diabetes can make informed choices. The amount of sugar and carbohydrates is also listed on each cookie package.

Do Girl Scout Cookies have trans fats?

Girl Scouts of the USA is proud that all Girl Scout Cookies have "zero trans fat per serving," with the same great taste that has made them one of America's favorite treats over the years. All varieties contain less than 0.5 grams trans fat per serving, which meets the FDA guidelines for the "zero trans fat" designation. Selected varieties can claim 100 percent trans fat–free status, meaning there's not a speck of trans fat in the whole package.

What does the GreenPalm logo on the side of my Girl Scout Cookie package represent?

The GreenPalm logo on Girl Scout Cookie packages signifies a commitment by our licensed bakers to developing a worldwide supply of sustainable palm oil. (Unfortunately, we have not been able to assure a fully sustainable supply in the quantities required by our bakers.) GreenPalm investment supports farmers' initiatives to become sustainable, and the presence of the logo on cookie packages ensures consumers and Girl Scout members that our bakers have purchased enough GreenPalm “certificates” to offset 100 percent of the palm oil used in Girl Scout Cookies. Visit www.greenpalm.org to learn more about these certificates.

Why is palm oil used in Girl Scout Cookies?

Palm oil is an ingredient found in the majority of baked snacks sold in the United States. Per GSUSA's licensed bakers, it is necessary to use palm oil in our cookies because of its unique ability to provide volume and texture in baked goods, usually without adding trans fats. Additionally, growing palm oil requires less land in comparison to other vegetable oils and supports the livelihoods of more than 4 million farmers globally. One of the primary goals of our Girl Scout Cookie bakers is to create the best-tasting cookies possible using the best ingredients available.

The world's food supply is intricately tied to the use of palm oil, so we believe promoting sustainable manufacturing principles is the most responsible approach for Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Cookie development. At Girl Scouts, we have an opportunity to use our strong voice to bring about positive change on this important issue, and our bakers have made the following commitments:

GSUSA and our licensed bakers are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), an organization of growers, buyers, manufacturers, conservationists, and other interested parties striving to develop and follow best practices to ensure sustainability. Our licensed bakers are committed to using as little palm oil as possible in Girl Scout Cookies and have committed to continuing to research viable alternatives. To read more about our bakers’ positions on palm oil, visit their websites: Little Brownie Bakers or ABC Bakers.

Thanks to the encouragement of and partnership with Girl Scout members, GSUSA and our bakers have realized the power of the Girl Scout brand to make a positive difference in the move toward sustainably produced palm oil.

What is that RSPO logo on the side of the Girl Scout Cookie package?

Little Brownie Bakers, one of our licensed bakers, uses an RSPO logo on its cookie packages because it shifted from GreenPalm to the Mass Balance system. The RSPO logo on Girl Scout Cookie packages signifies that 100 percent of the palm oil used in this product has been certified by the RSPO. The Mass Balance certification supports farms that grow palm oil while using sustainable practices, respecting human rights, and preventing deforestation. Little Brownie Bakers is working with the RSPO to not only improve the sustainability of palm oil for Girl Scout products but also for the entire food industry. Visit the Little Brownie Bakers website or the RSPO website to learn more.

Girl Scouts Cookies are produced once a year, making the production of specialty cookies difficult. In addition, the demand has not been great enough to make it economically feasible. Don’t forget to check the labels—you may find a variety that fits your dietary restrictions or goals.

Is the cocoa used in Girl Scout Cookies "conflict free"?

Our licensed cookie bakers are actively working with their suppliers to ensure that the cocoa used in Girl Scout Cookies is responsibly sourced. Our bakers are required to provide assurance that cocoa sourced for Girl Scout Cookies is child- and slave-labor free. To provide this assurance, our bakers require compliance from their cocoa suppliers through strict supplier codes of conduct. Our bakers are working with cocoa suppliers, farmers, and industry partners to identify risks and support education and training that promotes sustainable and ethical practices.

GSUSA understands that, in spite of the best efforts of our manufacturers and the ongoing work by their suppliers, we also have a responsibility to provide leadership on the topic of slave labor and human trafficking. We are committed to using our powerful voice and brand wherever possible to effect change in this area.

Are there gluten-free Girl Scout Cookies?

Yes. Responding to an important consumer trend, Girl Scouts in select areas will be selling either the new Caramel Chocolate Chip or Toffee-tastic® Girl Scout Cookies, which are both gluten-free, during the 2018–19 cookie season. Please contact your local Girl Scout council about availability. For more information on Caramel Chocolate Chip, visit ABC Bakers, and for Toffee-tastic, visit Little Brownie Bakers.

Don't Girl Scout Cookies contribute to childhood obesity?

Girl Scout Cookies are sold for a short time every year and are considered a snack or special treat. As with all treats, they should be enjoyed in moderation.

GSUSA promotes a healthy lifestyle for girls, which includes a well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise. Our health and fitness programs encourage girls to adopt fitness and healthy eating habits early in life and to continue them into adulthood. Girls are also taught to consider ingredients and portion size when choosing snacks.The Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) released a research review entitled Weighing In: Helping Girls Be Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrow that addresses various underlying causes that have led to the epidemic of obesity and of being overweight among children and adolescents, and the lifestyles, culture, and behaviors that have contributed to this condition. Read more about this research review.

We trust our licensed bakers, who are industry leaders, to develop recipes using ingredients that will produce the best-tasting and highest-quality cookies while simultaneously addressing industry trends; scientific trends; and, of course, consumer preference. One of our bakers, Little Brownie Bakers, has removed high-fructose corn syrup from its cookies. For a list of specific cookie ingredients, see Meet the Cookies or visit our bakers’ websites: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers.

Are Girl Scout Cookies "sustainable"?

Sustainability refers to social, environmental, and economic factors that an organization addresses to provide value not only to consumers but also to the world. GSUSA is proud of the initiatives its licensed bakers report on annually that speak to their corporate sustainability and social responsibility. The Girl Scout commitment to make the world a better place is a tenet GSUSA and its licensed bakers take seriously.

Do Girl Scout Cookies contain GMOs?

GSUSA is committed to providing cookie customers with the highest-quality products available. We understand that customers have questions about the foods they choose to eat, and GSUSA works alongside its trusted bakers to develop recipes using ingredients that will produce the best-tasting and highest-quality cookies.

Currently, Girl Scout Cookies contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).Girl Scouts recognizes that many people have concerns about GMO ingredients, and we monitor member and consumer opinion on this matter while simultaneously addressing industry trends; scientific trends; and, of course, consumer preference.

It is important to note that there is worldwide scientific support for the safety of currently commercialized ingredients derived from GMO agricultural crops. The World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the American Medical Association all share this assessment. It is also important to note that in the future, GMO ingredients may offer new, cost-effective alternatives to feeding the world’s growing population.